CV & Résumé Support
A CV or résumé introduces your skills, strengths, experience and qualifications to a possible employer.
It does not need to tell your entire life story. Its purpose is to show why you may be suitable for a particular role and encourage the employer to consider you for the next stage.
What is the difference between a CV and a résumé?
The words are often used differently depending on the country and industry. In many places, they refer to a similar job-application document.
CV
CV stands for curriculum vitae. It usually provides a structured summary of employment, education, skills and qualifications.
Résumé
A résumé is usually a shorter document tailored closely to a particular job. The term is especially common in North America.
Why a strong CV matters
Creates an introduction
Your CV gives an employer an initial picture of who you are and what you may bring to the role.
Highlights relevant strengths
It helps you present the skills and experiences most useful for the position.
Helps employers compare applicants
Clear headings and relevant information make it easier for an employer to understand your suitability.
Supports tailored applications
Adjusting your CV for each role helps connect your experience to the employer’s needs.
Provides interview talking points
Employers may use your CV to decide which experiences and achievements to ask about.
Opens the next door
The main goal is usually to help you progress to an interview or another stage of selection.
Choose a CV style that fits your situation
There is no single format that suits everybody. Your experience, goals and employment history can help determine which style works best.
Chronological CV
Lists work experience in date order, usually beginning with the most recent position.
May suit: people with a steady or directly relevant work history.
Skills-based CV
Places greater emphasis on abilities and transferable skills than on dates or job titles.
May suit: career changers, people returning to work or applicants with gaps.
Combination CV
Combines a strong skills section with a shorter chronological employment history.
May suit: applicants with varied experience or transferable strengths.
Student or first-job CV
Focuses on education, projects, volunteering, extracurricular activities and developing skills.
May suit: students, school leavers and first-time job seekers.
Build your CV section by section
Contact information
Include your name, phone number, professional email address and general location. A full street address is usually unnecessary.
Personal profile or summary
Write a brief introduction that highlights your experience, strengths and the kind of role you are seeking.
Key skills
Select skills relevant to the vacancy and support them with evidence where possible.
Employment experience
List job titles, employers, dates and key responsibilities or achievements, usually beginning with the most recent role.
Education and qualifications
Include relevant education, certificates, licences, training and professional development.
Other relevant experience
Add volunteering, projects, caring responsibilities, community involvement or self-directed learning when helpful.
References
Provide referees when requested, or state that references are available on request if appropriate.
Writing a personal profile
A personal profile is usually a short paragraph near the beginning of your CV. It should be clear, relevant and easy to understand.
Simple structure
- Who you are professionally
- Your most relevant experience or strengths
- The type of opportunity you are seeking
- What you could contribute
Example
Reliable and detail-focused administration assistant with experience organising records, supporting customers and managing routine office tasks. Seeking a structured role where strong organisation and written communication skills can contribute to a supportive team.
Show skills with evidence
Instead of listing a skill alone, briefly explain how or where you have used it.
Less specific
Good organisational skills.
Stronger example
Organised appointments, records and weekly schedules while meeting deadlines and keeping information accurate.
Useful action words
Action words can help describe what you did and the contribution you made. Choose words that remain accurate and natural.
Recognise transferable skills
Transferable skills can move between different jobs, industries, education, volunteering and everyday life.
Organisation
Planning schedules, maintaining records, coordinating tasks or keeping track of deadlines.
Communication
Writing emails, explaining information, listening carefully or helping people understand a process.
Problem-solving
Identifying an issue, comparing options and finding a practical way forward.
Reliability
Following routines, meeting commitments, completing tasks and maintaining consistent standards.
Digital skills
Using email, documents, spreadsheets, websites, software or online communication tools.
Attention to detail
Checking information, noticing errors, following instructions and maintaining accuracy.
Make your CV easy to read
Helpful presentation choices
- Use clear headings
- Choose a readable font
- Use consistent formatting
- Keep paragraphs short
- Use bullet points where helpful
- Leave enough white space
- Save the final document as a PDF when requested
Keep the design professional
Decorative layouts can look attractive, but they should never make the content difficult to find or read.
Simple formatting is often more accessible and may work better with online recruitment systems.
Tailor your CV for each role
You do not need to rewrite everything each time. Start with a detailed master CV, then adjust the most relevant parts for each application.
Read the vacancy again
Notice repeated skills, responsibilities and priorities in the advertisement.
Adjust your profile
Make the introduction reflect the particular role and organisation.
Reorder relevant skills
Place the most important and relevant skills where they are easy to notice.
Choose suitable examples
Highlight experiences that connect directly with the job’s responsibilities.
Use accurate keywords
Where appropriate, use terminology from the advertisement without copying claims that are not true.
Save a separate copy
Name the file clearly so you know which version was sent to each employer.
Employment gaps and changes
You do not have to explain everything in detail
Gaps can happen for many reasons, including health, disability, caring, study, travel, redundancy, burnout or difficulty finding suitable work.
Depending on the situation, you may use years rather than months, mention relevant activities completed during the gap or address the matter briefly later in the application process.
Should you disclose disability or neurodivergence?
Disclosure is a personal decision and may also depend on legal, workplace and safety considerations in your location.
Disclosure is not usually a standard CV section
Your CV normally focuses on skills, qualifications and relevant experience.
Choose the right stage for you
Some people disclose during the application, interview, offer or employment stage when requesting adjustments.
Neurodivergent-friendly CV strategies
Keep a master document
Store employment dates, responsibilities, qualifications and achievements in one place.
Use a section checklist
Work through one CV section at a time rather than trying to complete the whole document at once.
Save useful wording
Keep accurate skill descriptions and examples that can be adapted for future applications.
Ask for a second review
A trusted person may notice unclear wording, missing information or spelling mistakes.
Set a stopping point
Decide how many checks are enough so perfectionism does not delay submission.
Use templates carefully
Templates can reduce decision-making, but the content should still reflect your own experience.
Common CV mistakes to avoid
Check for these before sending
- Incorrect phone number or email address
- Spelling and grammar mistakes
- Very long paragraphs
- Outdated or irrelevant information
- Inconsistent dates or formatting
- A generic profile that does not match the role
- Unsupported claims or exaggerated experience
- Unprofessional file names
- Including sensitive personal details unnecessarily
Final CV checklist
- My contact information is accurate.
- My personal profile suits the role.
- My most relevant strengths are easy to find.
- My employment and education dates are consistent.
- I have included relevant volunteering or project experience.
- The layout is clear and readable.
- Spelling and grammar have been checked.
- The document has been tailored to the vacancy.
- The file name is professional.
- I have saved a copy of the version submitted.
Meet your CV companions
Busy Bee
Busy Bee supports organising information, working through sections and keeping track of different CV versions.
Finn Fox
Finn Fox supports choosing relevant examples, presenting transferable skills and adapting your CV for different roles.
Planned downloads
These practical resources are planned for this page and can be linked as they are completed.
Professional CV Template
A structured template for presenting employment, education, skills and qualifications clearly.
Planned resourceSimple Accessible CV Template
A clean, easy-to-read template with straightforward headings and minimal visual clutter.
Planned resourceStudent and First-Job CV Template
A template focusing on education, projects, interests, volunteering and developing skills.
Planned resourceSkills and Strengths Checklist
Identify practical, personal, digital and transferable skills that may belong in your CV.
Planned resourceEmployment History Planner
Record job titles, dates, responsibilities, achievements and useful examples before drafting your CV.
Planned resourceReferences Information Sheet
Keep referee names, roles, contact details and permission records together.
Planned resourceCV Tailoring Worksheet
Match your experience and skills with the requirements of a particular vacancy.
Planned resourceFinal CV Checklist
Complete a final review before saving and submitting your application.
Planned resource